Fifth-wheel for vehicles



(No Model.)

' M. WOODHULL.

Fifth-Wheel for Vehicles.

No. 235,325. Patented D ec. 7,1880.

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N PETERS, FHOTO-LITHDGRAPHER, WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

MORRIS WOODHULL, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

FIFTH-WHEEL FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 235,325, dated December7, 1880.

Application filed September 27, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MoRRrs WoonHULL, of Dayton, in the county ofMontgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Fifth-Wheels for Vehicles; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in fifth-wheels for vehicles; andmy object is to provide a simple, durable connection of the parts, toinsure strength, and to prevent the breaking, springing, or warping ofthe pivotal axis, which is the king-bolt.

My invention is designed for any class of vehicles which dispenses withthe perch, and the novelty consists in a'D fifth-wheel in 00111-bination with an ordinary king-bolt, said Wheel and bolt being bracedand secured by a rear brace connecting the bolster and king bolt, and acombined tie cap and brace connecting both plates of the fifth-wheelwith .the kingbolt in such a manner as to prevent breakage, springing,or warping of any of the parts, as will be herewith set forth andspecifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimproved fifth-wheel. Fig. 2 is a central sectional view of the same inside elevation.

My fifth wheel is of that class known as D-wheels, and it is composed oftwo plates, A and B, of which the former is secured to the axle O of thevehicle, and the latter to the bolster D.

The plate A, which is secured upon the axle by bolts 00 in the usual orany suitable manner, has its upper surface perfectlyflat and with itssemicircular extension projecting upon the front side of the axle, asshown. This plate has an aperture through it surrounded by anupwardly-extending boss, 0, for the passage of the king-bolt E, which isof the shape indicated.

The plate B, whose under surface is flat, is bolted to the bolster D, inany suitable manner, directly over the plate A, upon which it bears.This plate has an aperture, b, through it to receive the boss 0 of theplate A, and it is shaped like the letter D, as seen in Fig. 1. Theedges of its curved portion are beveled,

as shown at f. Each plate is provided with cars at its corners, whichbear against the sides of the axle and bolster, respectively, to aid inholding them securely to their places.

A cap or bearin g tie, F, fits over the curved portion of the plate B,and is secured by bolts h, which pass down through the plate A andthrough the T-head of a curved brace-rod or arm, G, which, extendingfrom directly under the tie-cap F, has its inner shouldered andperforated end encompassing the projecting end of the king-bolt directlyunder the axle, as shown.

Upon the rear side of the bolster is bolted a second T-headed brace-rodor arm, H, of the shape indicated, which, passing down, is curvedforward to receive the kin g-bolt, which passes through an eye formed inits shouldered end, which end is directly under the end of the brace G,as seen in Fig. 2.

A nut, 1, upon the lower end of the kingbolt, locks the braces andcompletes the construction.

From this description it will be observed that any tendency of the twoplates to slide upon each other, in contradistinction to their turningas fifth-wheels naturally turn, is prevented by the pivotal boss uponthe one plate entering a corresponding aperturein the other. Also, thatany tendency of the bolster to tilt upon the axle, or vice versa, isprevented by the front and rear braces and the tie-cap. Also, that allparts are so equally sustained and braced that the king-bolt is almostentirely relieved of any other function than that of a pivotal axis.

I do not desire to limit myself to the precise construction hereinshown, as in light vehicles the boss 0 may be dispensed with. The shapeand construction of the front and rear braces might also be varied tosuit the character of the vehicle; but,

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim- 1. A fifth-wheelconnecting the bolster and axle of a vehicle whose king-bolt or pivotalaxis is braced and secured by a combined tiecap and front brace, unitingthe fifth-wheel and king-bolt just beneath the axle, and a rear braceuniting the bolster and king-bolt just beneath the axle, wherebybreaking, spring ing, or warping is prevented, substantially as therunning-gear of a vehicle substantially in specified. l the manner andfor the purpose specified. 1o

2. The herein-described fifth-wheel,eonsist- In testimony whereof I havehereunto set ing of the plates A and B, one of which has a my hand.

pivot-a1 boss entering a corresponding aperture l MORRIS WOODHULL.

in the other, the king-bolt 1' the tie-cap F, j Witnesses:

front. brace, G, rear brace, 11, and nut l, the JAMES LINDEN,

parts being relatively arranged and united in I CHAS. M. PECK.

